All is well here with the team in Mozambique. We have been here a few days now, so the team is familiar with this place - I can tell that they are comfortable and loving every minute! Today, our team went into Maputo to buy souvenirs because next weekend, we will be too busy to do so. It was a good break and we really enjoyed the time together... especially us (and 3 others - total of 13) all fitting into one small vehicle. Ahh... Africa.
I'll start by saying that we were served the greatest fresh salad in the world yesterday. Amber (a.k.a. Mom) is taking care of us... cooking, laundry, etc. She's incredible and helps keep people like me aware of things that "need" to be done.
Everyday that we are here, we celebrate and encourage an individual on the team and call it their "Special Day." Today was Kathryn's day. We all went out for lunch on the beach looking out at the Indian Ocean. We are trying to get her to forget that on her special day, she had to squeeze into a car with 12 other people for over an hour! HA!
Ashley, Brent and Riley all went to the hospital two days ago and prayed over the sick. They were all very moved by the opportunity to love on those that are experiencing pain and sickness. As they shared that night, they talked about how the power of God is revealed in such places - when there is nothing else to rely on or hope in. I know it will leave a lasting impact on them, and others as they will all most likely go at least once during our trip.
Brent, Lauren, Jeremy, Kelsey, Heather and I went to the Bocaria (dump) yesterday to minister to those living and working on a mountain of trash. The smell is almost overbearing and at times, it is even hard to walk. I was able to kneel down and begin sharing with a woman, but we quickly realized that our translator had taken off with another group and we had no access to Portuguese. So, in my frustration, I stood up and thought, "Lord, you HAVE to make a way. You must." Just then, I looked down and, there in the trash sat a worn-out, torn Portuguese New Testament Bible. I picked it up and turned to John 14:6 - "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father but through me." Of course, I wasn't able to share the entire gospel with her due to the language barrier, but I have no doubt that a seed was planted in that moment. Praise the Lord for his mysterious ways - on mountains of trash that spread many miles sat His Word, waiting to be shared with this beautiful woman. My comfort is that the Holy Spirit will take that scripture and press it into the depths of her heart, revealing Himself. Incredible.
After walking through the Bocaria and praying for people, we invited them to a church service. During church, I joined a South-African man out back to help with some of the medical attention they were giving to attendees. One young girl had a hole in her foot wider than a quarter and all we could do is scrub it with alcohol and bandage it to prevent more infection. One man with a burn on his foot pulled his sock off and pulled his skin off, too. We fetched a bucket of very dirty water, but it was all we could soak his foot in to cool the heat. It was almost too much to watch, but it only led us to pray more desperately for God to intervene. This is just a typical perspective of the every-day needs here in Mozambique. Please pray for the sick and injured that we met that day.
After church, we handed out bread to more than 75 kids and adults. Eventually, the bread sack was empty. I broke. I wept. A young girl looked into my eyes as if to say, "What about me?" I have been exposed to plenty of poverty, but I have a hard time handling hunger. I continued on, as did the team, but inside I was hurting. I came back and that night read in John, "I am the bread of life; he who seeks me will never hunger." So, that is what we are forced to pray over these people - that they would KNOW Jesus, seek Him and be filled by Him.
The team has also spent hours playing in the sand, basketball, checkers and on and on. Mostly, sitting around and talking with kids. The Baby House was a chaotic experience for the team due to the 2-3 kids that climb on you at any given moment. One boy who is disabled caught Heather's eye and she spent the majority of her time sitting on the floor next to him rubbing his chest and arms. You could see that the affection she gave was so healthy for him and our team was moved as we watched.
For those of you who know my history with wasps, I got stung today by a bee on my ring-finger. It is already swollen, but I'm trying not to think about it because it makes me angry. Hopefully I don't come home with 9 fingers. We'll see.
Thank you for praying for us. Through the spiritual, emotional and physical exhaustion each day brings, your prayers and the Lord's faithfulness gets us up each morning with zeal to serve! We'll continue to pray for you back home. God bless!
